Romantic Period -

General Considerations
The Romantic Period is best known for its emotional works in many cases based on medieval stories. There are also strong nationalistic links with all forms of art.
The industrial revolution was changing the world (invention of  the steamboat / electricity / telephones / photography / etc…) and with it came the rise of capitalism and socialism.
Instruments
Additions to the musical instruments used during this time include:
Advancement of woodwind instrument, adding more keys to allow greater flexibility and virtuosity.
Invention of the valve on a brass instrument allowing the brass instruments to be fully chromatic for the first time and increasing the range of the  instruments

Composers

Brahms, Johannes (1833-1897)
waltzes: No.1, No.2, No.3, No.4, No.5.
intermezzo No. 1 in Eb Major, No. 2 in Bb Major.

Chopin, Frederic (1810-1901)
Black Key Etude

Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Felix (1809-1847)
Fingals Cave Overture  /  Wedding March 

Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich (1840-1893)
The Romeo and Juliet Overture /
Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies Trepak / Arabian Dance / Chinese Dance / Dance of the Reed Flutes / Waltz of the Flowers

Verdi, Giuseppe (1813-1901)

Musical Features

  • Music with emotional content and many different styles
  • Nationalistic themes sometimes based on folk songs from individual countries
  • Instrumental music became the more important that vocal music, especially in orchestras
  • Germany and Austria were the world leaders in Romantic music
  • The melody (tune) in a Romantic work is less regular, in length of phrase, than aClassical one.
  • This period sees the introduction of different types of complex chords
  • There is an increased use of chromatic ideas.
  • New types of dance are developed such as the, Waltz, Mazurka, Polonaise

 

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